“And what cause would that be?” I snapped, brushing his hand aside and rising on my own.
Marshal furrowed his brow. “The cause you’ve lived your whole life defending and upholding. The cause of justice, peace and prosperity for our people—your people.”
“Yes,my people, but what about the rest of the people out there? Don’t they deserve that too?”
“They could have it, if only they’d come to accept the empress' rule—”
“They’re slaves, Marshal! Already forced under her rule. Tell me how they’re supposed to remedythat?”
Marshal looked slightly taken aback.
“That’s right; I know your little secrets about the Outlanders and how our people use them as slaves and glut themselves on the labors of others.”
“There’s a difference between knowing and understanding,Princess.” Marshal growled the last word, his voice like ice.
I flinched. I’d known Marshal for the better part of my life, and I’d never known him to say a harsh word or share a mean thought about anyone. He really did believe the empress was good and her cause right. . . just the same as I had not even a week earlier.
“I wish you could see the truth,” I murmured on a sigh, rubbing my aching arm where he’d gripped it too hard. Though I wasn’t sure what to even do about it. Slavery was wrong, but the empress had to have a sound reason for condoning it, and for not telling me.
“And I wish the same for you. I knew bringing that Outlander here was a bad idea. He’s brainwashed you—”
“No,” I snapped, my head flying up. “Ryker opened my eyes—’
“Kaleah.” Marshal scoffed. “You’ve known him for less than a month! How can you believe his lies over things you’ve known to be true your whole life? You need to think with your head, not your heart. Because of that Outlander, Alex, one of the best young men I ever had the pleasure to know, and who I considered a son, is dead. Because of him, your sister is lying in the infirmary right now, very possibly taking her last breath—”
“How is she?” I rushed, all the fight leaving me as I begged for the answers I craved, staring up into Marshal’s hardened gaze.
He took a deep breath, crossing his arms. “She continues to weaken with every passing hour. The healers are trying to save her, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope.”
“Please, you have to let me go see her!” I darted forward, resting my hand on his arm.
Marshal stared down at me for a heartbeat, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, but my orders are for you to remain here.”
“Marshal, I need to see her.Please.”
“Maybe you should have thought about that before you took off.” He dropped his arm, and my hand fell to my side.
“It wasn’t my choice! My sister was trying to save my life, endangering her own in the process.”
“Then that’s a mistake she’ll have to live, or most likely die, with.” He said, stepping towards the door.
“No!” I lunged forward grabbing his arm. “Take me to the empress, let me speak to her, to explain what happened—”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“You can’t keep me locked in here! I’ll find a way out—I won’t give up until I’ve seen my mother and she’s saved my sister.”
“How very uncouth of you, Kaleah.” I spun at the sound of my mother’s voice. She stood in the entryway to the room, her lip curled with distaste. “I thought you could at least be comfortable for the last few days of your life, but I see now that I was wrong.”
“Mother!” I hurried toward her, but Marshal grabbed my arm, halting me. “You have to save Cassie.”
“I don’t ‘have’ to do anything. And with the way you’re acting right now, I can’t trust you to stay where you belong. Marshal, take her to the dungeons.”
Shock crossed the captain’s features, but he gave a stiff bow and his grip tightening on my arm.
“Please, you have to help Cassie!” I begged, tears burning my eyes, but my mother said nothing as Marshal dragged me past her and down the hall, my desperate cries echoing off the walls and deaf ears.
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